Pre-harvest and pulse treatments of spermine, γ- and β-aminobutyric acid increased antioxidant activities and extended the vase life of gerbera cut flowers ‘Stanza’

Abstract

Capitulum wilting and neck bending are the two important complications that impair the post-harvest quality and vase life of the gerbera cut flowers. The present study investigates the effects of pre- and post-harvest treatments of spermine (SPER), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on the vase life, qualitative features and enzyme activity of gerbera cut flowers ‘Stanza’. The pre-harvest treatments (1 mM doses) were applied by foliar spraying, and the post-harvest were by pulse treatment (5 mM doses). The flowers kept their quality longer in pre and post SPER and GABA treatments. The longest vase life was recorded in pre-SPER (14 days) and pre-GABA (13 days) compared to BABA treatments and controls (9 days). Neck bending was observed more frequently in controls whereas SPER and GABA showed a lower neck bending rate at 9 days after harvest. The highest vase solution uptake, total soluble solids, total flavonoid, total protein, the activities of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and ascorbate peroxidase, besides the lowest neck bending, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, H2O2 and polyphenol oxidase activity were observed in pre-SPER treatment and subsequently in pre-GABA. Pre- and post-harvest treatments with β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) had no significant effects on cut flowers compared to SPER and GABA, although showed slightly better effects than water control. It is therefore suggested that pre-harvest treatment using SPER and GABA can improve the vase life and quality of gerbera cut flowers.

Pre-harvest spray of GABA and spermine delays postharvest senescence and alleviates chilling injury of gerbera cut flowers during cold storage

“…Gerbera along with other popular flowers such as roses, lilies, and anthurium, is one of the valuable cut flowers in considerable demand for both domestic and export markets 11 . Gerbera is widely used because of high decorative value of its colorful flowers.…”

“…Proline accumulation affected by GABA and SPER treatments during cold storage led to reduce chilling damage in the present study. It has been suggested that proline accumulates within cells during cold stress, reduces cold damage and extends postharvest vase life 8 , 11 , 26 . The free proline content increased in petal cells with the progressing senescence over time.…”

“…Among many compounds use as important protective and preservative factors in cut flowers industry, GABA and major polyamines (PAs), putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, showed positive effects on preserving the quality under abiotic stresses 11 – 13 . GABA and SPER have been considered as effective anti-aging and anti-chilling agents delay the senescence and elevate the chilling tolerance in many species.…”

“…GABA, a non-protein amino acid with four carbon atoms, is generally found in most prokaryotes and eukaryotes. GABA provokes signals in response to environmental stresses and causes proline accumulation which maintains cellular structures, and reduces postharvest damages 9 , 11 , 22 . Cell conductance, insect defense responses, energy balance, biotic stress response to fungi, and metabolism of nitrogen and carbon are among other functions attributed to GABA 22 .…”

“…A few scientific reports revealed the positive effects of GABA on cut flowers. Anthurium cut flowers treated with 1 mM GABA showed lower electrolyte leakage (EL), H 2 O 2 , malondialdehyde (MDA), lipoxygenase (LOX), phospholipase D (PLD) activity and higher proline content and antioxidant enzymes activities than non-treated flowers 11 , 15 , 25 . Quality and vase life of rose cut flowers 23 and gerbera cut flowers 11 were improved by pre- and post-harvest GABA treatment in vase solution at ambient temperatures.…”